But despite its present grim condition, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to picture Seafolly any differently than how it’s been frozen in my memory: the lush clusters of weeping willows, draped in Spanish moss and tunneled over the streets; the sherbet-colored storefronts with their Dutch doors swinging, the local proprietors ready to offer you the shirt off their backs; the chirping of the cicadas, so loud it became like a ringing in your ears; the pelicans skimming across the water in perfect formation every evening at dusk, sun dipped low on the horizon. It’s impossible to imagine Seafolly any other way than as the spot that, for a short time at least, had been my favorite place in the world.
“As I’m sure you’re aware,The Lost Letterstill drives a significant amount of tourism to Seafolly,” Joanne continues. “Fans flock there to eat at the restaurants where Holden and Melody ate, charter flights at the old airplane hangar, go on tours of the farm, get their picture taken at Seafolly Beach…or I guess I should say, theydid.” She clears her throat. “Anyway, the studio had already been wanting to commemorate the anniversary, and, well, they saw an opportunity.”
I’m not liking the sound of this. The way Kendall’s avoiding my eyes only amplifies my anxiety. “An opportunity for what?”
“They want to issue an anniversary edition of the film, which would include unreleased footage and deleted scenes, as well as some retrospective interviews with cast members. Sort of a grand re-release, if you will, with a limited run in select movie theaters and an accompanying streaming special that would include a benefit concert, among other things. And they’ll be donating a significant portion of the proceeds to the Seafolly rebuilding efforts.”
“Is that all?” I say, mentally exhaling. While a brief resurgence inLost Letterpopularity isn’t ideal, I can weather that storm. Pun unintended.
“Well, no,” she says, a note of hesitation creeping into her voice, and my relief is short-lived. “In order to film the retrospectives, they’re asking cast members to return to Seafolly for a reunion.”
“Absolutely not,” I say instantly, and with so much force that Kendall flinches and takes a step back. If she’d been giving me the Pfeiffer cat eye, the winged liner would be slashed across my temple. Any attempt at tempering my reaction has flown out the window, but disguising my feelings is the least of my concerns right now.See Ryder again?It can’t happen. I’ve successfully avoided him for ten years, and I’m not about to break that streak now.
Joanne ignores my outburst, going on like I haven’t spoken. “It would require a week’s worth of your time next month, in August. The studio’s put together a whole slate of activities. You’d be revisiting some of the movie’s most iconic filminglocations, as well as doing a roundtable press event with the main cast. There would also be an online auction where fans would have the chance to bid on wardrobe and props from the movie, as well as certain experiences.”
“Joanne, I feel like you’re not hearing me,” I interrupt, my heart racing faster the longer she talks. “You don’t need to bother selling me on this. I get it, it’s for a great cause, and the people of Seafolly need our help. To that end, I will gladly make a sizable donation to make up for my absence.”
There’s a stretch of silence, though her disapproval is deafening. “I know I don’t need to explain how it will look if you decline to participate in a charity initiative like this. The optics would be horrible, especially considering that town helped make you who you are. Not to mention the PR nightmare that would ensue if you’re the only cast member who no-shows.”
I spot my lifeline, and I cling to it like a raft in the ocean. “Well, good news—I won’t be the only holdout, because there’s no way Ryder will agree to this, either.” It’s our unspoken rule, and one of the only things I know we’re still on the same page about: the Seafolly chapter of our lives needs to remain permanently in the past where it belongs.
“Well, that’s the thing. Ryder’s already agreed.”
“Hewhat?!”
I shoot to my feet, my body electrified by panic. Kendall’s eyes are saucers, her face etched with concern that undoubtedly mirrors my own. She’s the only person who understands just how precarious this situation is.
I start pacing a loop around my kitchen island. “This doesn’t make any sense. Ryder doesn’t want anything to do with meor Seafolly. Why would he change his tune now?Ow!” I mutter a curse as I stub my toe on a counter stool mid-lap, adding injury to serious insult.
“I don’t know the specifics, I just know he’s confirmed as attending. Reid seemed quite pleased to share that part, which tells me they must have anticipated your reaction.” She hesitates. “I got the impression that if you decline, it could turn into a public pressure campaign.”
The implied threat is clear. “You mean they’ll leak it.”
“I think so. And you know what all the articles will say.”
“I do,” I say glumly. “ ‘Scarlett can’t face Ryder.’ ” I whip open the door of my Sub-Zero and blast my face with cold air. I wish I could climb inside and never come out. I wish I could cryogenically freeze myself until this reunion has passed. “Jo, I’ve spent ten years trying to get people tostoptalking about us. This is going to dredge everything back up.” I can hear the rusty gears of the rumor mill grinding back to life, and brace myself for the return of headlines and hashtags from hell:Ryder & Scarlett: From #HoldMe to #HoldOut.
“I know. And for what it’s worth, I did try to get you out of it. Not that it did any good.”
I make one last-ditch attempt at saving myself. “Can’t we just tell them I have a scheduling conflict? It’s not a lie. Everyone knows I’m prepping forThe Ingenue.”
“Everyone also knows it doesn’t start filming until October.” She sighs. “Look, I know this isn’t ideal, but I think we need to look at the silver lining.”
I bark an incredulous laugh. “What silver lining?” Thereisno silver lining. Only dark, foreboding thunderclouds.
“All the attention can only helpThe Ingenue.Think aboutit, every article that’s written about the reunion will mention your next project. You can’t buy that kind of publicity.” She pauses. “Also, you could use a vacation.”
I snort.Yeah, because spending a week avoiding my ex-costar-slash-first-love is sure to be just the relaxing respite I need.
“I’m serious! Look, you’re about to embark on a very intense project that will require a lot of you over the next year. I think you should look at this as an all-expenses-paid, much-needed vacation to a spot you love—”
“Usedto love—”
“Where you’ll reconnect with some old friends and raise money for a worthy cause while you’re at it. Instead of fighting it, try to enjoy it.”
Right,I think with a mounting sense of dread.Becausethat outcome is about as likely as happily ever after.
2
